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@Luiten 'tatrs gstmt @fitug nun-BRANCH, 0F rEASTunNuriirifra, NEWYORK.

' Lener@ Patent No. 66,207, @laterz Juzg 2, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN GID'ER-MILLS.

T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY 'CONCERN Be it known that I, E. W. BRANCH, of Ilast Henrietta, in the county of Monroe, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Apple-Grinding Machines; `and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a section of the machine, but looking on the back side of the grinding apparatus.

Figure 2, a section through the hopper, looking on the front side of the grinding apparatus.

Figure 3, a vertical section, at right angles to ligs. 1 and 2.

.Figure 4, a section of thehopper, looking the opposite way from iig. 2.

' Figure 5, a diagram in perspective, showing the engagement of the jointed pawl with the stop, by which motion is given to the grinding-wheel. Y

Like letters of reference indicate' corresponding parts in all the iigures.

My improved machine is intended for grating rather than crushing-.the apples. The invention consists in an improved arrangement of parts whereby the grinding and balance-,wheels are disengaged from the driving power when the latter stops, so Vasnot to produce shock or strain; also in securing the grating-wheel in a rim of the balancewheel so that it is made remorable; also in the employment of an adjustable bed for holding the apples to the grating-wheel; `and finally, in the employment of a space between the spring-board in the hopper andthe bed for the passage of stones, &c.

As represented in the drawings,` A `is a frame, in which is mounted a band or erank-wheel,` B. This wheel has an internal gear, a, with which gears a pinion, of a shaft, c. At the opposite end ot" a is situated a balance-wheel, (l, and grinding-wheel, E, whose hub, cl, ts loosely thereon. The end of the shaft, inside the hub, is provided with a pawl, D, made up of two parts, a xed arm, f, and a jointed dog, g, as clearly shown in igs. 1 and 5. In `turning rapidly forward the centrifugal action willA extend or throw the pawl out, as in black lines, and in this condition its en d strikes a stop or shoulder, t, of the wheel, and thus connects the latter with the shaft'and gives it motion.' But when the shaft is stopped, the stop t, coming around on the opposite or back side of the pawl, will strike the dog y and depress or throw it down, as shown in red lines, and the grinder will then revolve free till it slackens and stops. The advantage of this arrangement is that when the shaft is stopped from any cause the continued turning of the wheel will not produce a sudden shock or strain upon the driving power from the` centrifugal action, as would be the case if thetgrinder were rigid with the shaft. The wheel can move on without impediment. In addition to this the Yautomatic disengagement of the pawl will allow the wheel to be turned backward,'as well as forward. It is frequently the case that the grinding apparatus becomes `clogged with stones or other impedimentswhich require the wheel to` be turned back to disengage them. It' 44an ordinary pawl and ratchet were employed, this could not be accomplished without raising thepawl. In my ease, when` the shaft is stopped the wheel is free to turn either forward or backward. The grinding-wheelE, insteadoi` being of cast iron, as usual, is made in the form of a wooden disk, armed with teeth z' z' driven therein; `and this disk is simply inserted in a rim, 7:, which is cast with the balance* wheel. It is held in place by screws or bolts, and in this manner it is made removable. Thus, if the grinding face is at any time injured by stones passing through, or from other sources, the whole machine is not ruined, but the grinding disk may be removed from its place and a new one substituted without diliiculty. If a .stone passes through, the wood will also indent and yield`,and therefore there is less liability 'of'breakage than when a solid iron face is employed. The teethz'are much more eiective in grating and reducing the apples than any that can be cast upon an iron face, which acts only to crush instead of grate the apples. In.V front of the grinding-'wheel is situated a hopper, G, and beneath it is situated a discharge-spout, H. The hopper rests against one side oi` the face, and the spout opens centrally from nnderit, being so relatively arranged with the wheel that while'the whole grinding surface is economized the space below 4will insure Athe throwing oli' of the pomace by'thc centrifugal action, as indicated by the arrows, iig. 2. In thc bottom of the hopper is situated a curved bed, I, formed of a strip of metal of suitable size, as clearly indicated. This is adjusted toward or from the grinding-wheel by slots and screws ZZ. This bed enables the throat for the passage of theapples to be enlarged and contracted, as may be desired; and being made thin at the operating edge it facilitates the escape of the pomace at that point, where, if'a, thick throat `,vero employed, it would become' choked and clogged. It also insures the apples-being grated up nely, instead of being cruelle/dias' in the usual way. The .hopper is provided with c board, Khpressed forward by a. spring, m, which has a. tendency to throw the apples up against the face of the grinder. This board does not extend clear to the bottom of the hopper, but :L space, n, is left between its lower end and the bedA I, as clearly shown in igs.' 3 andi. This space is of much importance, for it 'forms a receptacle for such stones as may poss down into the hopper, the stones pressing back into the space instead of passing through the throat. The grinding-teeth and the bed are thus shielded'from haim,'while the advantage of n. spring-boord is obtained to press .the apples forward.

What I claim as my invention, ond desire to secure by Letters Potent, is-

The combination and arrangement ofthe spring-board K and adjustable hed I with the grinding apparatus,

consisting of the disk E, iitting in the rim L of the wheel C, which is driven by jointed pziwl D, the whole constructed :is described and operating in the nia-nner and for the purpose herein set forth.

ln witness whereofl I have hereunto signed my nome in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. l

E. W. BRANCH.

Witnesses:

It. F. Oscoop, J. A. Devis. 

